Straight bar knitting machines

ABSTRACT

IN A METHOD OF CHANGING FROM RIB TO PLAIN FABRIC, IN A STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE, WHEREIN THERE ARE HALF AS MANY MACHINE NEEDLES AS FRAME NEEDLES, USING LOOP SPREADER ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MACHINE NEEDLES FOR TRANSFERRING THEIR RIB LOOPS TO ADJACENT EMPTY FRAME NEEDLES, AND AT THE SAME TIME USING SPACED INDIVIDUAL ONES OF MODIFIED LOOP SPREADER ELEMENTS TO DOUBLE THEIR ASSOCIATED LOOPS WITH LOOPS ON THEIR ADJACENT FRAME NEEDLES, THE SPACED GROUPS OF LOOPS THUS FORMED BY THE SPACED LOOP DOUBLINGS BEING SUBSEQUENTLY CLOSED TOGETHER, BY USE OF POINTS FOR ENSURING PRODUCTION OF NON-RIB FABRIC.

Nov. 2, 1971 P. LE GOOD ETAL STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1968 Q 5m s i g GHQ ow Nov. 2, 1971 P. LE GOOD ETAL 3,616,659

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 15, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 N.) LL

2Q at-Q,

NOV. 2, 1971 LE GQQD EI'AL STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 15, 1968 Nov. 2, 1971 P. LE GOOD EFAL 3,616,659

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT ES Cup I I l l l I Q G +lllllillllllllH IIIIIIIIIIHIWIHIIHIIIIIIII HIIIH Nov. 2, 1971 P. LE GOOD ET 'AL 3,616,659

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 15, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 V Y llHHllll|l m\||u||u| W mmamfiwmmmmfiifwm "ems J l \\IHHH F I Juuum u 52 WHIIHIHII Hl\\lll|l 4 1971 P. LE (5000 ETAL 3,616,659

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 15. 1.968 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.7.

NOV. 2, 1971 LE GOOD EIAL 3,616,659

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 15. 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG.9.

NOV- 2, 1971 LE G EI'AL NOV. 15 1968 United States Patent 3,616,659 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Peter Le Good and Reginald Richard Billson, Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, assignors to William Cotton Limited Filed Nov. 15, 1968, Ser. No. 776,143 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 25, 1967, 53,727 67 Int. Cl. D04b 11/04 US. Cl. 6688 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a method of changing from rib to plain fabric, in a straight bar knitting machine, wherein there are half as many machine needles as frame needles, using loop spreader elements associated with the machine needles for transferring their rib loops to adjacent empty frame needles, and at the same time using spaced individual ones of modified loop spreader elements to double their associated loops with loops on their adjacent frame needles, the spaced groups of loops thus formed by the spaced loop doublings being subsequently closed together, by use of points for ensuing production of non-rib fabric.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to British patent application No. 53,727/67 of Nov. 25, 1967, William Cotton Limited, from which priority is claimed.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines and concerns loop doubling in the last course of knitted loops of rib fabric for reducing the width of the course from the large number of wales in the rib fabric to the smaller number of wales in non-rib fabric to be knitted onto the rib fabric.

This loop doubling operation has been usually accomplished by hand but it has been proposed to effect the loop doubling automatically by the operations first of spaced individual loop transfer points to effect the side ways transfer of spaced individual loops which sub-divides the course into spaced groups of loops, next of spaced groups of transfer points to receive the spaced groups of loops, and subsequently of the groups of transfer points to close together and therefore close the groups of loops, these loops being then recieved, in the thus shortened course length, by a point bar for automatic transfer to non-rib machine needles for non-rib fabric of the shorter width to be knitted onto the rib fabric.

In this proposed arrangement, before the sideways loop transfers can take place it is necessary to bring the rib loops from the machine needles into line with remaining loops.

Our US. Pat. No. 3,050,967 discloses an improved straight bar knitting machine in which rib fabric can be made on machine needles and alternate frame needles, and the machine needles have spreader elements by which the rib loops can be transferred from the machine needles to the other alternate frame needles automatically for changing from rib to plain knitting.

In applying the proposed method of loop doubling to this rib to plain machine, it will be appreciated that at least two separate operations would be necessary, first the transfer of rib loops to the other alternate frame needles, and then the sideways transfer by spaced individual points of spaced individual loops.

An object of the invention is to provide means for automatically changing from rib to plain knitting and loop doubling in such improved manner as to reduce the number of separate operations required.

ice

The invention provides a method of changing knitted fabric structure from rib to non-rib, which consists in a main loop transfer operation of transferring one facial set of loops of the last rib course into alignment with the second facial set of loops thereof, to provide the first non-rib course, in which main transfer operation spaced groups of loops of the one facial set are turned over into matching spaces in the second facial set, and wherein the method also includes the operational step, also during the main transferring operation, of transferring predetermined spaced loops of the one facial set laterally in direction required to double them with their corresponding adjacent loops of the second facial set, thereby providing spaced loop doublings which decrease the consecutive loops in the first non-rib course to a required number thereof. Conveniently in the main transferring operation, the spaced groups of loops of the one facial set are transferred laterally in one direction required to turn them over into the matching spaces in the second facial set, and wherein for the loop doublings the predetermined spaced loops of the one facial set are transferred laterally in the opposite direction. Conveniently also the loop doublings cause the first non-rib course to be initially composed of spaced groups of loops, and the method further includes closing said groups of loops into continuous course relationship.

The invention also provides a knitting machine having a first set of needles on which non-rib fabric can be produced, a second set of needles for co-operating with the first set to enable-rib fabric to be produced, loop shifting elements associated with the second set of needles, and cam operated means for operating the needles and loop shifting elements for changing from rib to non-rib knitting, and wherein the loop shifting elements comprise groups thereof projecting from their associated needles, and, between these groups, individual loop shifting elements which project in a different manner laterally from their associated needles, whereby loop doublings can be provided by action of the individual loop shifting elements at the same time as the change from rib to nonrib knitting. Conveniently the loop shifting elements are loop spreader elements of which those of the groups project from one predetermined side of the associated needles, and the individual loop spreader elements project from the opposite side of their associated needles. There may be groups of loop transfer points, and means for operating them to cause groups of loops which are spaced by the loop doubling to become closed together. In one arrangement the loop transfer points are in two wide groups of individually slidable points, and displaceable bar means is adapted to control the points to be operative in progressively changing group size following a series of fashioning dips respectively. In another arrangement the loop transfer points are in two series of spaced blocks thereof, and means are provided for closing the groups together following a fashioning dip. The machine is conveniently a straight bar knitting machine wherein the first set of needles are frame needles and the second set of needles are machine needles. Conveniently the needles are adapted for the production of 1 x 1 rib by having the machine needles at half gauge.

The foregoing and oher features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the specific embodiments to be hereinafter particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are perspective views of part of a straight bar knitting machine showing transfer of rib loops by machine needle spreader elements to frame needles.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine needle spreader elements with spaced ones of the spreader elements of opposite hand to that of the remainder.

FIG. is a diagrammatic view showing one method of closing together spaced groups of loops.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a second method of closing together spaced groups of loops.

FIG. 7 is a general cross sectional view of a straight bar knitting machine for use according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of a control part of the machine.

FIG. 9 is a further detail view of a control part of the machine.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 1, this shows parts of a straight bar knitting machine having means for knitting lengths of rib fabric, each to thereafter have knitted onto it, either in a different, non-rib, machine or in the same machine, a length of non-rib fabric.

These means include a full gauge bar of bearded frame needles 1, and a half gauge bar of machine latch needles 2 each having alongside it a spreader element 7.

The figure shows a stage of changing from 1 x 1 rib to non-rib structure whereat the machine needles 2 have been advanced to greater extent than normal, so that the rib loops RLF are spread by the spreader elements 7 at a position where the spread loops are disposed over the alternate rising frame needles 1A which match the machine needles and have no loops during the rib knitting.

The rear ends 8 of the spreader elements are secured to the needles, and the front ends 9 are in spring engagement with the needles, so that upon further raising the frame needles 1 for the alternate frame needles 1A to penetrate the rib loops RLF, FIG. 2, in the following retraction of the machine needles 2, FIG. 3, the rib loops RLF are cast off the machine needles 2 to be relinquished to the frame needles 1.

In this rib to non-rib course of loops it is required to have loop doubling for reducing the width of the course to that of the non-rib fabric to be subsequently knitted onto the rib fabric.

For this purpose of loop doubling, a predetermined number, say every fourth, machine needle 2 has its spreader element 7a, particularly FIG. 4, of opposite hand, i.e. on that side of the needle opposite to the remaining spreader elements 7.

Consequently when the loop spreading takes place, the spaced spreader elements 7a spread their loops RLFI, FIG. 1, over their adjacent frame needles 1B which already have loops of the rib fabric on them, and the adjacent alternate frame needles 1A remain devoid of loops which sub-divides the course of loops into spaced groups thereof, parts of two groups GL of which are shown in FIG. 3 with a space S between them.

In the example of FIG. 5, the spaced groups GL of loops are shown at the next stage labelled ST1 whereat spaced groups GP of transfer points, which register with the spaced groups 'GL and loops are operated at stage ST1 to receive the spaced groups GL of loops from the frame needles. Then at a stage labelled ST2 in FIG. 5 the groups GP of transfer points are closed together. This closes the spaced groups GL of 'loops together to form a continuous course having a less number of consecutive loops than before. In this form the loops are transferred to a point bar at the reduced course width. In one ensuing arrangement the latter point bar is then fitted in a nonrib machine and the reduced course of loops is transferred to the frame needles to have non-rib fabric knitted onto the rib fabric. In another arrangement reduced course of loops is transferred by the point bar onto the frame needles of the same machine which can then be operated to knit non-rib fabric onto the rib fabric.

The spaced groups GP of transfer points are returned to the spaced condition for repeat operation. The sideways movements of the spaced groups GP of transfer points may be accomplished by hydraulic jack or other actuator means.

In an alternative arrangement the spaced groups GL of loops may be closed together by use of means disclosed in our-U.S. patent application No. 829,561 to which reference is directed for full details. Briefly, as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 6, there are two half rows A, B of loop transfer point selector elements C, D corresponding to two half groups of the needles, and these selector elements C, D are initially in projected operative position in which, upon operation by a narrowing head, they would cause all associated loop transfer points to co-operate with all their corresponding needles. There are also two spaced bars E, F, in the narrowing head, which co-operate with butts on the selector elements and which are adjustably displaceable endwise to any required extents, the arrangement being such that any of the selector elements C, D, when held projected by their butts being engaged by the bars E, F, cause their associated loop transfer points to be held projected to co-operate with their as sociated needles, and any remaining loop transfer points are not thus held projected so that they do not co-operate with their associated needles.

In use of this means for the present purpose of closing spaced groups of loops together, the bars E, F are first displaced apart for a first group needle distance as shown at stage S1 and the narrowing head is operated. As a result, all except the innermost two groups GR1, GR2 of loops are picked up from their needles and are transferred one needle inwards, so that the remaining left hand groups such as the right hand groups such as GR3-GR11 and GR13 of loops are thereby closed up to the groups GRl, GR2, respectively. At the next stage S2 the bars E, F are displaced apart a second group distance equal to the first, and the narrowing head is again operated so that all except the four groups GRl, 6R3 and GR2, GR13 of loops are picked up and transferred one needle outwards, so that the groups such as GR4-GR12 are closed up to the groups such as GRI, GR3. This process is repeated as shown until all the groups of loops are closed up at each side.

A straight bar knitting machine for carrying out the invention and having the mechanism described according to our said patent, is represented in FIG. 7. Briefly there is the usual needle bar 16 of bearded needles 1, a sinker bar 18 of sinkers 19, thread carrier means 20, and a narrowing head. The latter, see particularly FIG. 10, is represented by rods 21, 22 and two half length bed plates such as 23 which are carried for the two half length rows of transfer point elements CD and are mounted for endwise displacements on the rod 21. This rod 21 is connected by a link 23a to cam operating mechanism 23b for producing dipping motions of the narrowing head in customary manner to provide for loop transferring operations to be eifected. There is also the usual machine needle bar 17, and this carries machine latch needles 2 having the loop spreader elements 7 hereinbefore described.

The machine also has usual operating mechanism tl7a for operating the machine needle bar 17 and this mechanism includes an additional cam 39, see also FIG. 8, which has a rise 39a for imparting to the machine needles 2 the additional advance movement required for presenting the spread loops to the frame needles when changing from rib to plain fabric and loop doubling as hereinbefore described. This cam 39 is rendered operative when required to change from n'b to plain fabric by displacing the cam follower 34 by means of a fork arm 35 on a control rod 36 which is endwise displaceable by a control lever 37, FIG. 9, and a pattern device 38.

Secured to the bed plates such as 23 are guide bars such as 24, 25 having tricks in which the half length rows of transfer point control elements C, D are frictionally held such as by cover plates 27, 28 fitted to the guide bars 24, 25.

In the position shown the narrowing head is in an upper position with lower portions of the elements C, D partly projecting downwardly and just engaging transfer points 29 which are consequently in non-deflected position and in this position the points are not suitably disposed for loop transfer operations when the narrowing head dips.

The dotted position shown for the points 29 is one to which selected points are to be deflected by lowering movements of selections of the elements C, D so that the selected elements can box with the corresponding needles when the narrowing head dips so that loop transferring takes place by the selected points in their deflected position.

The upper projecting ends of the elements C, D have butts C D at different positions for the respective halves of the row thereof, and all have lateral butts 312.

Above the narrowing head are mounted the spaced bars E, F, which have on their inner sides control bars E, F disposed respectively over the butts C D The bars E, F are slidably mounted in tracks E F and the whole assembly is carried by two angle rails E, F extending the full length of the machine.

For sideways displacements of the bed plates such as 23, one is secured to a bar 23a, and the other is secured to a bar 23b.

It will be understood that the narrowing head is operated in usual dipping manner as and when required for the purpose of boxing the points GP with the needles ready for loop doubling according to the invention, the operation of the cam operated mechanism 23b being under control of any suitable pattern control mechanism. The sideways displacements of the bars 23a, 23b for the sideways displacements of the points GP are similarly effected as and when required for the purpose of single needle transfers of loops in loop doubling according to the invention under control of suitable pattern control mechanism. The endwise displacements of the bars E, F, FIG. 6, for the selective control of numbers of the points GP are similarly effected as and when required for the purpose of rendering some points operative and others non-operative ready for the loop doubling according to the invention, under control of suitable pattern control mechanism. Alternatively the endwise displacements of the blocks of points, FIG. 5, are similarly effected as and when required for the purpose of closing the blocks of points together and reopening them after loop doubling, according to the invention, under control of suitable pattern control mechanism.

What we claim is:

1. A knitting machine having a first set of needles on which non-rib fabric can be produced, a second set of needles for co-operating with the first set to enable rib fabric to be produced, loop shifting elements associated with the second set of needles, and cam operated means for operating the needles and loop shifting elements for changing from rib to non-rib knitting, and wherein the loop shifting elements comprise groups thereof projecting from their associated needles, and, between these groups, individual loop shifting elements which project in a different manner laterally from their associated needles, whereby loop doublings can be provided by action of the individual loop shifting elements at the same time as the change from rib to non-rib knitting.

2. A knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the loop shifting elements are loop spreader elements of which those of the groups project from one predetermined side of their associated needles, and the individual loop spreader elements project from the opposite side of their associated needles.

3. A knitting machine according to claim 1 having groups of loop transfer points, and means for operating them to cause groups of loops which are spaced by the loop doubling to become closed together.

4. A knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the loop transfer points are under control of two wide groups of individually slidable elements, first displaceable bar means is adapted to control the elements for the points to be operative in progressively changing group size following successive fashioning dips of the points respectively, and second displaceable bar means is adapted to control the points for effecting sideways loop transference.

5. A knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the loop transfer points are in two series of spaced blocks thereof, and means are provided for closing the groups together following a fashioning dip of the points.

6. A knitting machine according to claim 1 being a straight bar knitting machine wherein the first set of needles are frame needles and the second set of needles are machine needles.

7. A knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the needles are adapted for the production of l x 1 rib fabric by having the machine needles at half gauge.

8. A method of producing a selvedge knitted garment blank composed of first knitted fabric having a predetermined number of rib knitted wales of loops from which extends second knitted fabric having a less number of knitted wales, comprising the steps of knitting said predetermined number of said rib knitted wales of loops of said first knitted fabric including knitting a last transitional course of loops of said predetermined number, said last transitional course of loops comprising interconnected first and second rows of first and second spaced loops respectively, transferring predetermined spaced groups of said first spaced loops of said first row thereof in a lateral direction into the spaces between correspondingly spaced loops of said second spaced loops of said second row thereof and simultaneously transferring loops adjacent said groups of said first spaced loops of said first row thereof in the opposite lateral direction to form with corresponding loops of said second spaced loops of said second row thereof a predetermined number of double loops thereby forming in a common row spaced composite groups of said first and second spaced loops each having an end double loop, closing together said composite groups of loops so that in said transitional course of loops the number of side by side loops is reduced to said less number required for said knitted wales of said second knitted fabric; and knitting said less number of knitted wales of said second knitted fabric onto said correspondingly less number of loops of said transitional course.

9. In a method of producing a selvedge garment blank in which knitting of rib fabric is followed by non-rib fabric with a transitional course in which loop doubling has reduced the number of side by side loops from a predetermined number in the last rib course to a reduced number required for starting the non-rib fabric, the step of forming the transitional course which consists in transferring a predetermined number of spaced groups of loops of the last rib course in a lateral direction into spaces between remaining loops of such course, simultaneously with this operation transferring loops adjacent said groups of loops in the opposite lateral direction to double them with adjacent ones of said remaining loops thereby forming spaced groups of loops each having an end doubled loop, and closing together the latter groups of loops into continuous course formation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,050,967 8/1962 Taylor 6688 3,376,717 4/ 1968. Scheller et al. 6689 3,397,555 8/ 1968 Blood et a1. 6688 3,398,554 8/1968 Start et a1. 6689 3,503,226 3/1970 Woodcock et a1 6696 RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner 

